New Local Eats!

There's always something new to try in Wellington with new eateries and bars regularly opening up. Here are some of the most recent and recommended.

Grace Patisserie - This Tory Street patisserie is the place for the freshest, crispiest hand-rolled croissants and deliciously delicate house-made French pastries and desserts with a slight Asian influence.

Karaage Burger - Serving Japanese-inspired burgers and delicious fried accompaniments - the free-range fried chicken burgers are a must-try and/or go for the plant-based cauliflower patty.

Zelati Dessert Café - Using only real, premium ingredients including fresh milk, cream and fresh fruit, Zelati pasteurise, age, infuse and churn each delightful batch of their gelato from scratch.

Flamingo Joe’s - On the waterfront near Lambton Quay, Flamingo Joe’s serves up brunch and stunning panoramic views across the harbour.

Atlas Restaurant - Located on the Wellington waterfront, this upmarket eating establishment has already been included in Cuisine's top 100 New Zealand restaurants.

Highwater - Hand-churned butter, homemade bread, bacon and sausages lovingly produced in-house – this is just a small hint at the care and passion that goes into every forkful of food at this sustainable Cuba Street eatery.

Wellington's Tastiest Laneway

Possibly the world's tastiest laneway - Hannah's Laneway. Tucked away in a little laneway in central Wellington, you'll discover a trail of boutique factories and eateries each with delectable goodies to try.

• Wellington Chocolate Factory
  
• Golding's Free Dive
  
• Leeds St Bakery
  
• Pizza Pomodoro
  
• Fix & Fogg
  
• Shepherd
  
• Hanging Ditch
  
• Lashings
  
• Fortune Favours
  

Markets

Swing by Wellington's tasty markets and there's more options than you can shake a kebab at.

Wellington Night Market - on Friday and Saturday nights, the best of the region's food trucks and stalls descend upon Left Bank (Friday) or Lower Cuba Street (Saturday).

Sunday Harbourside Market - this is the spot to buy your weekly fruit and veg, but it's also a great place to tuck into some tasty brunch and a good cup of coffee on Wellington's waterfront.

Capital Market - this is a modern take on a food court with plenty of choice vendors serving global cuisine.

Saturday Underground Market - a vibrant market showcasing Wellington's emerging designers, makers, bakers and crafters.

Coffee Capital

With cafés on almost every corner and multitudes down every street, it’s fair to say that we're just a little coffee-obsessed here in Wellington.

The Hangar - the Flight Coffee Hangar is the flagship café of Flight Coffee, it showcases incredible coffee, while creating a relaxed environment to enjoy your favourite cup.

La Cloche - serving Wellington's finest selection of French cheeses, patés, meats, homemade patisseries, and other fine french deli goods.

Mojo Aurora - a favourite with Wellington locals. Refuel over an espresso or try their Steampunk precision-brewed, filter style coffee. 

Pickle and Pie - a Wellington take on a NYC delicatessen, serving classic pastrami on rye sandwiches, salads, and of course, pies with pickle on the side.

Relaxing Rooftops, Beaut Balconies & Cool Courtyards

You can't beat Wellington on a good day, especially when you're enjoying a refreshing bevvy in one of the city's many hidden courtyards, rooftop bars or sunny balconies.

Honey Badger - Just like its namesake, this new craft beer, cocktail and tequila bar might look unsuspecting from the outside, but it's big on attitude!

The Arborist - decked out in recycled pallet furniture for the ultimate backyard vibe. With a range of beers, wines and boutique sodas, their speciality is frozen cocktails.

Sterling - a modern yet comfortable lounge, with a touch of mid-century charm. The menu is fresh, seasonal, simple and only uses local produce and quality ingredients. They have a great selection of local and international wines, craft beer and cocktails – not to mention great coffee by local legends Peoples Coffee. 

Basque -  a tapas bar based on the eating and drinking style of Northern Spain with a delightful rooftop bar for basking in the sunshine. Sample some of the 17 craft beers on tap.

St. Johns - in the former St Johns Ambulance building on Wellington's waterfront. Popular for its sheltered outdoor area where you can choose to dine at tables or sit 'picnic style' on rugs or bean bags.

Cheap Eats

Wellington is blessed with plenty of amazing food options that will keep your wallet happy. 

Little Penang - located on The Terrace and Dixon Street. Little Penang serves up delicious authentic Malaysian flavours and attracts 5 start customer reviews.

Dumpling'd - known as the dumpling dynamos in Wellington. You can enjoy dumplings at one of their three locations on Boulcott Street, Courtenay Place or The Terrace. 

Burger Liquor - located on Willis Street this joint serves delicious burgers and beverages including their famous boozy milkshakes.

The Old Quarter - nestled between a shoe repair shop and Mexico Restaurant on Dixon Street, Old Quarter serves up delicious modern vietnamese food. 

Feeling Fancy

Feeling like splashing out while you're here in Wellington? We've got you covered:

Boulcott Street Bistro - since 1991, Boulcott Street Bistro has been serving Wellingtonians and locals alike with warm hospitality and a menu cooked with care. Their dishes highlight natural flavours and showcase classic combinations.

Shed 5 - a fantastic waterfront restaurant & bar for dinner, lunch, or just a few drinks along the harbour's edge. The menu at Shed 5 has a seafood focus and is aptly matched with an extensive choice of local and international wines.

Logan Brown - king of Wellington's fine dining scene. Serving up refined and tasty food in a former bank vault on Cuba Street. 

Capitol - classic italian style with fresh, pure and uncluttered food. They've served Wellingtonians their famous molten chocolate pudding for many years. 

Vegetarian Eats

If you're a herbivore looking to indulge in a strictly vege feast, look no further. These eateries are vegetarian-friendly and absolutely delicious.

Chow - much loved by Wellingtonians, they serve the best blue cheese wontons. In a casual setting, Chow serves up fresh, contemporary takes on Asian eats along with a line-up of killer cocktails.

Aunty Mena - this establishment provides arguably the best vegan and vegetarian food options in Wellington. All dishes are produced with fresh locally sourced produce and are a delight to those who visit. 

Olive - a long standing Cuba Street institution serving seasonal French and Italian inspired menus in a rustic-chic space. Olive's lush tropical courtyard features, you guessed it, an olive tree, and is one of Wellington's best kept secrets. 

Cocktail Bars

Many of Wellington's best cocktail bars are hidden down side streets or tucked away unnoticed. Half the fun is finding them, here are a few local favourites:

The Library - A reading room and lounge bar with live music and sweet treats, hidden away upstairs in the heart of Courtenay Place.

Dragonfly - known for its modern Asian cuisine and quirky cocktails, plus it has an excellent courtyard to settle in for the night.

Hanging Ditch - a cocktail bar where the range of liquor is, quite literally, off the hook. Their bottles of booze are suspended from the ceiling, dangling overhead on bungee cords which the bartenders pull down on to construct your cocktail.

C G R Merchant & Co - C G R  stands for 'coffee, gin, rum' - three things this bar does very well. The back wall is lined with its own creative house infusions which are regularly changed out. Expect the likes of pumpkin pie rum and balsamic fig gin and their salted caramel rum has a cult following.